Introduction
Schools always have lots of activities going on and furniture is constantly being rearranged to accommodate students’ needs. It is important to make sure radiators and vents are not obstructed by any equipment and that filters are kept clean and free of dust. This ensures better circulation of heat into the space and reduces the energy required to meet the heating demand.
Planning
- Draw the layout of your classroom or building. Make suggestions about how the furniture could be better placed so that radiators and vents are not obstructed and so that the warmth of equipment such as computers does not affect students, teachers or thermostats. The best group could present their findings to the class.
- Assist your teacher to rearrange the classroom to keep radiators and heating vents clear.
- Ask your school cleaners/caretaker to clean any vents so they are free of dust and debris.
- Now plan a campaign to share your best practice with other classes throughout the school. Emphasis the environmental and cost savings, as well as increased comfort for classroom users. Draw some diagrams to illustrate the best layouts for energy saving.
- Inspect all the classrooms around the school, and highlight the worst offenders for obstructed radiators and heating vents. Target these areas of the school first with your campaign.
Next Steps to save Energy
- The trouble with radiators is that while one side heats your room up, the other side is putting the same amount of effort into heating the wall. This is especially bad on external walls, the heat just goes straight outside! Radiator panels help to reflect that heat back into the room. Ask your school management team to consider adding radiator panels to appropriate radiators around your school. The panels slot in behind the radiator, and stick to the wall using double-sided tape. It’s best to start with external walls that aren’t insulated. Radiator panels have been shown to reduce the heat flow by approximately 45% through the section of wall directly behind the radiator.
- Ensure windows are free of displays, and resources, and blinds are left open whenever possible to maximise natural light entering the room. This will minimise the need for artificial light.